Phone zone

Seniors can get deals on cellular service.

T-Mobile is now carding customers, offering cheap cellular service for Baby Boomers with a new offer for two lines with unlimited data for $60 a month. A single line is $50 a month.

The new T-Mobile ONE Unlimited 55+ plan, which kicked off Thursday for those age 55 and older, helpfully includes taxes and fees when using Autopay, which offers a $5 discount for each line, according to a news release. Those annoying fees and taxes add about $15 a month to most bills.

The new plan is “such a sweet deal that we’re checking IDs,” T-Mobile said.

The new plan offers more than 50 percent savings on multiline service for mature users. Normally, one line with unlimited data on T-Mobile ONE costs $70 a month.

The No. 3 carrier’s nocontract service includes unlimited talk, text (including to Mexico and Canada) and unlimited 4G LTE data, mobile hotspot and other benefits.

Customers must opt in to the new plan to get the savings, so call or visit a T-Mobile store.

The scrappy company’s typically cheeky press release also mocks competitors No. 1 Verizon and No. 2 AT&T.

“For years, the carriers have been patronizing the generation that wireless,” said CEO and President John Legere. “Today, the Un-carrier ends this ridiculousness with T-Mobile ONE Unlimited 55+, an offer that recognizes how Boomers and beyond use their smartphones!”

T-Mobile’s new plan takes aim at Consumer Cellular, Ting Mobile and other wireless carriers that cater to senior citizens who usually don’t consume much data. Those carrier plans average about $25 a month.

Earlier this year, Verizon and AT&T started offering unlimited data plans for about $180 a month for four lines, starting a price war. T-Mobile and Sprint immediately announced improvements to their unlimited plans, too. But rising data consumption is now clogging networks and slowing speeds, according to an August OpenSignal report, which compares 3G and 4G performance of the four largest mobile operators. Hopefully, that won’t mean these popular plans end up being of less value as carriers seek to manage congestion.

Meanwhile, AT&T is offering back-to-school deals on smartphones and tablets.

Get a free iPhone 7 32GB valued at up to $650 when you

buy one as an upgrade or new line on AT&T Next no-cost financing plan with some requirements. The second phone must be a new line and must currently have eligible DirecTV service or add it within 30 days of mobile activation. That’s an annoying new bundling requirement. Also, keep in mind that the new 10th anniversary iPhone 8 is due in September, so it’s possible better deals on iPhone 7s may be on the horizon.

The carrier also is offering a free 32GB iPad with DirecTV subscription and eligible iPhone purchase.

Android users can get deals, too. AT&T is offering a free Samsung Galaxy tablet with a two-year agreement, and up to $200 in credit (with eligible trade-in) on the purchase of a new Galaxy S8, S8+ or S9 Active.

For more information, go to ATT.com/Deals.